Decisions, Decisions

Solistone "Jakarta Moon" Pebble Stone Tile

Botanica "Had To Have" Bag

Belgard "Mega Bergerac" Pavers

Close-Up of Mega Bergerac Pavers

Daltile Pattern for Remodeled Bathroom

Brancacci "Aria Ivory" Tile

What a long day we spent today. Starting out at 7:30 in the morning we began our quest. My daughter and I dropped my husband at work and then went to breakfast at Bagel City. Lots of goodies to choose from and very filling. Afterwards we made a quick trip to Home Goods and found two pillow shams to coordinate with the lovely ivory quilt/spread that I purchased two weeks ago for my son's redecorated bedroom.

Next, on to the Unique Thrift Store for their "Monday only" 25% off sale. We had only a limited amount of time but were able to find a great bath rug and assorted current magazines for me and a Ann Taylor Loft dress, American Eagle and Key West skirts for my daughter. We have decided that we will try to return on another Monday before she returns to school.

In the early afternoon we joined my husband and went to select tile for our remodeled bathroom on the first floor of our home. We decided upon a Daltile pattern called Brancacci in the Aria Ivory color for the room floor and walls of the new walk-in shower. We decided on a pebble tile from Solistone, "Jakarta Moon," for the floor of the shower. We will probably find a accent border to go around the inside wall of the shower.

After this, we then went to view and decide upon pavers for our new patio. We had decided to go with the Belgard brand, but needed to decide a specific design. Ultimately, we chose Mega Bergerac in the Fossil Beige color scheme. We will also need a small retaining wall around 3 sides of the pation which will more than likely be the "Celtik Wall" design in the same color scheme. Now we have to make a final decision on the layout of the patio and begin with the bed of stone dust, etc. that will be the base for the pavers.

We stopped at the Mall at Columbia (Maryland) for a brief period of shopping for "back to school" outfits and a quick lunch/dinner. I decided to buy a Vera Bradley bag in the Botanica pattern which I have admired for about two years and since they are retiring it I just had to have it. Back to Charles Town, dropped our daughter at home and then on to Home Depot for various and sundry things, including faux wood blinds for our son's room. By 9:30 we were finally back home and ready to drop! Of course the week is still young and there will be other places to go, I'm sure.

Tasks Are Mounting

Black and White Checkerboard in Laundry Room

Valspar Billow Blue

Posting has become more difficult than I imagined during this summer. We are involved in lots of projects on our new addition as well as plans for our son's upcoming wedding. That does not even take into consideration trying to keep up with Ebay, Etsy, website, sewing and decorating projects and time spent with my daughter while she is home for the summer.

Updates: We have almost finished painting our great room, former kitchen and upstairs back hallway. I have used the "Tobacco Road" color that so many other bloggers have used and/or suggested. We love it. We have had to use a double tier scaffold and our "Little Giant" extension ladder to reach the many high places since the great room has the lofted ceiling. We have also been painting all of the trim (a soft, bright white) around the many windows, some that are about 2o-25 feet in the air, which is extremely tedious work. My husband has begun to build the stove hood/mantel/chimney over our new range (which will have to reach high into the air).

We installed black and white vinyl tiles in our new laundry/mud room. I was never able to find affordable porcelain tile in the black/white "faux" marble checkerboard look and went with the vinyl "peel and stick" tiles that we found at Lowe's, which were suggested in a former post at Southern Hospitality. I used a white-washed wooden hutch and three shelf units that were displays in our store for storage along the walls. I decided to paint them with a soft white semi-gloss paint so that they would be more striking and easier to keep clean. We are almost finished painting the walls a Valpar satin blue color, "Billow," which has turned out great, especially since the white furniture pieces and appliances, Closet Maid shelving and trim paints are great contrasts against it.

My husband has been trying to get control of a large portion of our backyard by tilling and re-seeding sections in hopes of at least installing the floor of our new patio, that will be outside of the french doors of the new sunroom. Of course, we are also trying to at least tape and prime the walls of the sunroom so that it may be used for the bridal shower at the end of August. We might be able to finish the window and door trims, but I doubt that I will be able to finish-paint them in time.

We are trying to at least install the new frameless glass shower stall in the former downstairs powder room, which we have gutted and enlarged a bit. Finding a porcelain/ceramic tile that I am happy with has been grueling. I am trying to stay away from too much gold and brown. Finding a "white" tile that incorporates some gray or gold tones has not been easy. I wanted to use 2" by 2" or 4" by 4" tiles inside of the shower but the cost is ridiculous. I have compromised with a 6" by 6" tile instead. We will re-position the toilet and old vanity so that they may be used until we continue the renovation as time permits.

Our son and fiance will be coming to stay with us the first of August. I have to finish small paint touch-ups and re-decorate his room during the next week. We have had major air conditioning problems in the older portion of our house up until two days ago and it has made working in his room insufferable up until now. Thankfully, they have made a "temporary fix" to the wiring of the system (disconnecting the heat...no heat come fall?) so that we can get through the rest of the summer. Why do I have the feeling that a new system may be on the horizon?????????

The bridal shower is scheduled for the end of August and the pressure of construction/decorating is mounting. Finally, both Vicky and I have been able to find "mother of the bride" (in her case) and "mother of the groom" (in my case) dresses for our upcoming fall weddings. We were down to the wire for ordering so that we will receive them in time for the weddings. In fact, this coming weekend is the first bridal shower for Julie, Vicky's daughter, so the time is flying fast!

Time to finish my tale and get back to work. Will update on shower preparation and recent thrifting "finds" tomorrow.